Secure paintball harness attachment system

ABSTRACT

A system for securing a paintball container to a harness is provided comprising a harness having a magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert, and an item of paintball sport equipment having a magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert, wherein the item of paintball sport equipment is held securely to the harness via magnetic attraction.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.60/498,444, filed Aug. 28, 2003, which is incorporated herein byreference as if fully set forth.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to paintball sport equipment, and moreparticularly, to improved attachments between items of paintball sportequipment and paintball harnesses.

BACKGROUND

Paintball is a sporting game having two teams of players usually tryingto capture one another's flag. The sport is played on a large field withopposing home bases at each end. Each team's flag is located at theplayer's home base. In addition, all of the players have paintballmarkers that shoot paintballs. These paintballs are generally sphericalgelatin capsules filled with paint. During play of the sport, theplayers on each team advance towards the opposing team's base in hopesof stealing the opposing team's flag, without being eliminated from thegame. A player is eliminated from the game when the player is hit by apaintball fired from an opposing player's marker. When the paintballhits a player, a “splat” of paint is left on the player.

Participating in the sport of paintball requires several pieces ofequipment for carrying, transporting, storing, and utilizing thepaintball ammunition. Paintballs are held in paintball carriers, oftenreferred to as “guppies” or “pods”, and are typically cylindrical tubes.Participants wear paintball harnesses with several compartments forholding the various pieces of equipment a participant would need, suchas extra paintballs, spare goggles, flashlight, and cleaning wipes.

A common paintball harness holds a paintball carrier by inserting thecarrier into a pocket, and then closing a flap or strap secured byhook-and-loop fasteners or snaps. This system of carrying paintballcarriers is not ideal. Paintball is a sport in which time is animportant factor. When a player stops to reload their paintball marker,they are vulnerable to being marked an opposing player. The reloadingprocess is difficult in itself because the player's vision is obscuredby goggles, and their dexterity hindered by gloves. If the player has tofurther find the correct pocket, open the flap, and reach in and extractthe paintball carrier, valuable time is lost.

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 1 a are two examples of prior art harnesses. Theharnesses 30 have straps 32 for securing the harness to a paintballsport player's body. Pockets or pouches 34 are provided for holding, forexample, a paintball sport carrier 36 or other paintball sport item.Straps 38 may also be provided for securing, for example, a paintballsport item such as an air tank 40. In some cases, the pockets merelygrip the paintball sport items with an elastic material, holding themonly by friction.

It is also a known practice to connect all of a player's paintballcarriers together, and then attach the entire bundle of carriers to theplayer's harness with a buckle, flap or strap secured by hook-and-loopfasteners or snaps. This is even less desirable. With this system, aplayer has to stop, release the strap securing the bundle, remove acarrier, load the marker, then replace the carrier, and strap the bundleto their back again. This process is even more time consuming,especially considering the difficulties and challenges to dexteritycaused by wearing paintball gloves and a paintball face mask.

Accordingly, there is a need for a way of attaching a paintball carrierto a paintball harness such that the carrier can be released andreplaced quickly with low vision and dexterity requirements.

SUMMARY

Briefly stated, the present invention is directed to a system ofattaching a paintball carrier to a paintball harness using magnets.

A system for attaching a paintball carrier or other paintball sport itemto a paintball harness according to the present invention comprises anitem of paintball sport equipment, and a receiving portion on theharness for receiving the paintball carrier. At least one of the harnessreceiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment includes afirst magnetic portion. The other of the harness receiving portion andthe paintball carrier includes at least one of a second magnetic portionor a magnetically attractable insert. The second magnetic portion or themagnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage thefirst magnetic portion when the paintball carrier is placed in theharness receiving portion.

A paintball harness according to the present invention comprises atleast one receiving portion for receiving an item of paintball sportequipment. A first magnetic portion is provided adjacent the receivingportion. A second magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert isprovided on the outer surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.

A method for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to apaintball harness according to the present invention is also disclosed.An item of paintball sport equipment is attached to a receiving portionof a paintball harness using a combination of magnets and/ormagnetically attractable inserts. At least one of the harness receivingportion and the item of paintball sport equipment is provided with afirst magnetic portion. The other of the harness receiving portion andthe item of paintball sport equipment is provided with at least one of asecond magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert. The secondmagnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned tomagnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item ofpaintball sport equipment is placed adjacent the receiving portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a standard paintball harness known in theprior art.

FIG. 1 a is an isometric view of another version of a standard paintballharness known in the prior art.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of a paintball harness and itemof paintball sport equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a paintball harness and item ofpaintball sport equipment taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the paintball harness of FIG. 3carrying an item of paintball sport equipment.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of the paintballharness having a pocket and an item of paintball sport equipment of thepresent invention, with a cut-out view of a first magnetic portionwithin the pocket.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the embodiment of the paintball harnessof the present invention of FIG. 5 depicting an item of paintball sportequipment in place within the paintball harness pockets.

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of an alternate embodiment of the presentinvention having receiving portions extending from a surface of apaintball harness.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment depicted inFIG. 7, taken along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the alternate embodiment depicted inFIG. 8 with a paintball container secured to the paintball harness.

FIG. 10 is a top cross-sectional view of an item of paintball sportequipment having a magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insertembedded in its surface.

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of an item ofpaintball sport equipment with a receiving sleeve of the presentinvention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of apaintball harness and item of paintball sport equipment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of an alternate embodiment of apaintball harness and item of paintball sport equipment according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Certain terminology is used in the following detailed description forconvenience only and is not considered limiting. The word “upper” and“lower” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made.Additionally, the terms “a” and “one” are defined as including one ormore of the referenced item unless specifically noted.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of a paintball harness 10 isshown. The paintball harness 10 has at least one receiving portion 12for receiving an item of paintball sport equipment, such as a paintballcarrier 14, which is discussed in greater detail below. A paintballcarrier is used herein by way of example of an item of paintball sportequipment, and not by way of limitation. It is appreciated that thearrangement of the present invention for securing an item of paintballsport equipment to a paintball harness as described herein may be usedto secure any item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness.For example, items of paintball sport equipment include, but are notlimited to, valve pins, front bolts, velocity adjusters, expansionchambers, barrels, paintball grenades, trigger frames, barrel adaptors,power feed adaptors, marker scopes, marker covers, marker holsters,cocking bolts, sight rails, springs, gladiator cradles, O-rings, turbovalves, air tanks, ball detents, sears, actuator rods, air block screws,shafts, push pins, air regulators, grips, elbows, butt plates, facemasks, loaders, guppies, harnesses, throat deflectors, chest deflectors,knee pads for athletic use, and elbow pads. Any of these items ofpaintball sport equipment may be equipped with a magnetic portion ormagnetically attractable insert 18, for securing to a paintball harnessof the present invention having a magnetic portion or magneticallyattractable insert, as described herein. Within the scope of the presentinvention are any arrangements where a paintball harness and paintballsport item are equipped to provide a magnetic attraction between atleast a portion of the paintball sport harness, and at least a portionof the paintball sport item, with sufficient magnetic attraction toprovide a firm but releasable connection between the item and theharness.

The receiving portion 12 may be formed as a recess or indentation in themain body of the harness 10, formed to receive an item of paintballsport equipment. The receiving portion 12 includes at least one firstmagnetic portion 16 for securing the paintball carrier 14 to thepaintball harness 10. The first magnetic portion 16 may be attached toand extend from a surface of the receiving portion 12, or it may be heldin a pocket on, or otherwise molded into the surface of, or disposedwithin, the receiving portion 12. For example, the harness may be madefrom a cloth, fabric, nylon, neoprene, canvas, or any other acceptablematerial, and the magnetic portion 16 may be sewn into the harness 10 orotherwise embedded within the harness when the harness is fabricated.The first magnetic portion 16 may be formed as an insertable orsecurable magnet of appropriate size, or a strip or swatch of magneticmaterial, and may cover any desired area of the receiving portion 12 toaccomplish the goals of the present invention. In addition, it isappreciated that a plurality of first magnetic portions may bepositioned at various locations adjacent the receiving portion.

An item of paintball sport equipment such as a paintball carrier 14 isprovided with at least one second magnetic portion 18 or magneticallyattractable insert that is sized and positioned to magnetically engagethe first magnetic portion 16 when the paintball carrier 14 is placedadjacent the receiving portion 12, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inaddition, it is appreciated that a plurality of second magnetic portionsmay be positioned at various locations about the item of paintball sportequipment.

In one embodiment, the second magnetic portion 18 extends from the outersurface of the item of paintball sport equipment such as a paintballcarrier 14, as shown in FIG. 2. In an alternate embodiment, the secondmagnetic portion 18 is embedded in the surface of the paintball carrier14, as shown in FIG. 10. In another embodiment, the second magneticportion 18 may be carried by a sleeve 75, which is placed about thepaintball carrier 14, as shown in FIG. 11. The sleeve 75 may beremovable, and may be secured to the an item of paintball sportequipment through any known means, such as being formed from an elasticmaterial and frictionally held in place, or strapped in place by hookand loop fasteners, snaps, or buckles. The second magnetic portion 18may be a magnet secured or otherwise held by or within the sleeve, ormay be a strip or swatch of magnetic material comprising a portion ofthe sleeve 75.

The second magnetic portion 18 is of opposite polarity as compared tothe polarity of the first magnetic portion 16, such that when the itemof paintball sport equipment such as a paintball carrier 14 is placedthe receiving portion 12, the first magnetic portion 16 and secondmagnetic portion 18 hold the item of paintball sport equipment securelyon the harness 10 through magnetic attraction. If a magneticallyattractable insert is used, it may be formed as a metallic insert,preferably of a magnetically attractable ferrous metal.

The receiving portion 12 of the harness 10 may be any area of theharness 10 provided with a magnetic portion or plurality of magneticportions. FIGS. 2-4 show an embodiment of the present invention in whichthe receiving portion 12 is in the form of a recessed groove in thesurface of the paintball harness 10, shaped to receive an item ofpaintball sport equipment, for example, a paintball carrier. The surface13 of the receiving portion 12 has a shape that may be complementary toat least a portion of the exterior surface 15 of the paintball carrier14 to help ensure that the first and second magnetic portions 16, 18 maybe placed adjacent one another. In a carrying position, as shown in FIG.3, a portion of the paintball carrier 14 protrudes from the paintballharness 10, enabling the user to remove the paintball carrier 14 bysimply grabbing the protruding portion and applying enough force toovercome the magnetic attraction. This can be done quickly, even with agloved hand, without having to fumble with pockets, flaps or otherclosures.

As shown in FIG. 13, the first magnetic portion 16 may be disposed belowthe surface 44 of the harness 10, and accessible through an opening 46formed in the surface 44. An item of paintball sport equipment such as apaintball sport carrier 48, has a second magnetic portion 18 whichextends from it. The second magnetic portion 18 fits within the opening46, and is therefore aligned with the first magnetic portion 16 formagnetic engagement. Alternately, the first magnetic portion 16 mayprotrude from the surface of the harness, and the item of paintballsport equipment may have the second magnetic portion within a recess.This alternate arrangement provides a similar engagement.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the receiving portion42 is in the form of an open pocket 42. The pocket 42 does not need aclosure flap or other form of end cover since the paintball carrier 44is held securely within the pocket 42 by a first magnetic portion 46 andsecond magnetic portions 48, or one magnetic portion and onemagnetically attractable insert. In a carrying position, as shown inFIG. 6, a portion of the paintball carrier 44 protrudes from the pocket,enabling the user to remove the paintball carrier 44 quickly and easilywithout having to fumble with closures by grabbing the protrudingportion and overcoming the magnetic attraction. Unlike known paintballharnesses which secure paintball carriers or other items of paintballsport equipment only by friction or elastic material, the magneticattraction provided by the arrangement of the present invention providesan additional means to maintain the item of paintball sport equipment 14secured to the harness 10, so that the item does not fall off duringpaintball sport play.

In another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7-9, the receiving portionextends from the surface of the harness, such as in the form of a cradle52. The cradle 52 maybe formed of plastic or another acceptablematerial. The surface 53 of the cradle 52 may be formed to have a shapethat is complementary to at least a portion of the exterior surface 55of the paintball carrier 54 to help ensure that the first 16 and second18 magnetic portions can be placed adjacent to one another. In acarrying position, as shown in FIG. 9, a portion of the paintballcarrier 54 is readily accessible in the cradle 52, enabling the user toremove the paintball carrier 54 quickly and easily without having tofumble with closures by simply grabbing the protruding portion andapplying enough force to overcome the magnetic attraction.

In an alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 12, a magnetically attractableinsert 60 may be provided in place of the first magnetic portion orsecond magnet portion, so long as a corresponding magnetic portion isprovided on the other of the harness and item being secured, in order tocreate an attraction for securing the item of paintball sport equipment62 to a paintball harness 66. The magnetically attractable insert 60 maybe formed as a metallic insert, preferably of a magnetically attractableferrous metal. As shown in FIG. 12, a magnetically attractable insert 60may be provided sized and positioned on an item of paintball sportequipment 62 to magnetically engage a first magnetic portion 64 providedon a paintball harness 66. The magnetically attractable insert 60 willattract the first magnetic portion 64 when the item of paintball sportequipment 62 is adjacent the paintball harness 66. Alternately, thepaintball harness may include a magnetically attractable insert 60,which is positioned to magnetically engage a magnetic portion on apaintball container or other item of paintball sport equipment.

Having thus described in detail several embodiments of the attachmentsystem of the present invention, it is to be appreciated and will beapparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only afew of which are exemplified in the detailed description of theinvention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts andprinciples embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerousembodiments incorporating only part of a preferred embodiment arepossible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventiveconcepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiment andoptional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respectsas exemplary and/or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of theinvention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to thisembodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency ofsaid claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

1. A system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising: at least one item of paintball sport equipment; a paintball harness including at least one receiving portion located on the paintball harness for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment; at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including a first magnetic portion; and the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the second magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is adjacent the receiving portion.
 2. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
 3. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
 4. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
 5. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 6. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the paintball harness.
 7. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 8. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
 9. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
 10. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve placed about the item of paintball sport equipment.
 11. A paintball harness for carrying at least on item of paintball sport equipment, comprising: at least one receiving portion for receiving an item of paintball sport equipment; at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one first magnetic portion; and the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is placed adjacent the receiving portion.
 12. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
 13. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
 14. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
 15. The paintball harness according to claim 14, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 16. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the harness.
 17. The paintball harness according to claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 18. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
 19. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
 20. The paintball harness according to claim 11, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve at least one sleeve for securing about an item of paintball sport equipment.
 21. A system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising: a paintball harness including at least one receiving portion located on the paintball harness for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment carrying the sleeve; at least one of the receiving portion and the sleeve including at least one first magnetic portion; and the other of the receiving portion and the sleeve including at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the first magnetic portion when the sleeve is adjacent the receiving portion.
 22. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
 23. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
 24. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
 25. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 24, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 26. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the paintball harness.
 27. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 26, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of the surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 28. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness adjacent the receiving portion.
 29. The system for attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness according to claim 21, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the sleeve.
 30. A method of attaching an item of paintball sport equipment to a paintball harness, comprising: providing an item of paintball sport equipment; providing the paintball harness with at least one receiving portion for receiving the item of paintball sport equipment; providing at least one of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment with at least one first magnetic portion; and providing the other of the receiving portion and the item of paintball sport equipment with at least one of a second magnetic portion or a magnetically attractable insert, wherein the at least one second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is positioned to magnetically engage the at least one first magnetic portion when the item of paintball sport equipment is adjacent the receiving portion.
 31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is a second magnetic portion which has a polarity opposite the polarity of the at least one first magnetic portion.
 32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a pocket.
 33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a recessed groove in a surface of the harness.
 34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the surface of the groove has a shape that is complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 35. The method according to claim 30, wherein the receiving portion is a cradle extending from a surface of the harness.
 36. The method according to claim 35, wherein at least a portion of the cradle has a shape complementary to a portion of a surface of the item of paintball sport equipment.
 37. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or magnetically attractable insert is embedded in the item of paintball sport equipment.
 38. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one first magnetic portion is embedded in the paintball harness.
 39. The method according to claim 30, wherein the at least one of the second magnetic portion or the magnetically attractable insert is held within a sleeve placed about the item of paintball sport equipment. 